Tape-cutting device



NOV. 11,1941. SMITH 2,262,260

TAPE-CUTTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 4, 1940 INVENTOR fled afJmif/L p ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE-CUTTING DEVICE Fred A. Smith, Fresno, Calif., assignor to Industrial Tape Corporation, NewBrunswick, N. J., a corporation or New Jersey Application December 4, 1940, Serial No. 368,433

11 Claims.

This invention relates to tape-cutting devices and more particularly to inexpensive hand devices of this type especially suitable for use in,

combination with relatively large rolls of tapes.

As illustrative of one practical and commercial application of this invention, reference is made to rolls of pressure-sensitive adhesive masking tapes. For reasons of economy and practicability tapes of this type usually are supplied in large rolls which must be handled by the user as he applies the same and must be severed by the user as the tape is being applied. In many cases the tape which ordinarily is difficult to handle is rendered more so by the fact that it has a creped or extensible backing, all of which makes it highly desirable to have a light weight device easily operable to cut the tape as it is applied to the work, with the minimum of efiort on-the part of the operator.

Such a device in order to be practical must be light in weight, compact in size, simple to operate, and inexpensive to manufacture. It is the purpose of this invention to provide an improved tape cutter having the foregoing characteristics.

A better understanding of this invention and its inherent advantages will be had from the following description of one practical embodiment, particularly when the description is considered in connection with the drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a tape cutter embodying the principles of this invention and illustrating the cutting blade in position for appying to a roll of tape in full lines, and also in the position it assumes as the roll of tape decreases in size and dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tape cutter illustrated in Figure l, and

Figure3 is a side elevation illustrating the tape cutter in use upon a roll of tape.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is illustrated one embodiment of this invention, in which the tape cutter comprises generally a base or tape core engaging member I preferably formed of sheet metal and adapted to engage the inner periphery of a tape core or spool, and a cutting arm 2 pivoted thereto, also preferably formed of sheet metal, and carrying a cutting blade 3 adapted to engage the outer layer of tape wound upon the core and assist in severing the latter as hereinafter described.

The major portion of the base is arcuate and curved upon a radius substantially that of the inside diameter of the tape core to which it is to be applied and is of a width corresponding to the retaining the cutter upon a roll of tape.

width of the tape upon which it is to be used. The forward end of the base is formed with two upstanding retaining flanges or wings 4 and 4a which form a forward channel and engage the sides of the tape core and tape thereon and serve to center and hold the forward end of the base in position on the core. Adjacent its other end, the base is provided with two additional upstanding flanges or wings 5 and 5a, which form a rear channel and engage the sides of the tape core and the tape thereon at a point removed from the flanges 4 and 4a and serve to center and hold the rear end of the base in position on the core. One of the latter wings 5a also serves .as the pivotal point for the cuttin arm. The

rear end of the base beyond the wings 5 and 5a is curved inwardly upon a shorter radius as at I to form a hook-like end portion. This latter portion facilitates withdrawal of tape by providing a handle portion for engaging the hand and by means of which the tape may be withdrawn without creating a breaking action against rotation of the spool of tape. If desired, the base may be stiffened by the formation of ribs 8 thereon.

The cutting arm 2 is also arcuate in contour being curved on a radius approximately that of the roll of tape upon which the cutter is to be used and is also preferably made of sheet metal. As previously stated, arm 2 is pivoted or hinged at its rear end to the wing 5a by a rivet 9 which passes through the wing and arm. The cutting arm is left free of the opposite wing 5 and the opposite side of the base to facilitate insertion or placement of the cutting device on the roll of tape by approaching the roll of tape from one side thereof. A friction washer Il may be inserted between the wing and arm if desired to introduce some resistance against free movement of the arm relative to the base and thus assist in Like the base, arm 2 may be stiffened by a rib l3 if desired. At its forward end the arm 2 is flanged laterally as at I5 a distance equal to the width of the tape upon which the cutter is to be used and then downwardly as at I! to engage the side of the roll of tape. The upper or rear portion of the flange l5 which overlies the tape may be roughened or corrugated as at l9 to afford a better grip.

It is preferred to form the cutting blade 3 as a separate element having any desired form of cutting edge and attach it to the lower or forward end of the flanged portion l5 of the tape.

In use the tape cutter is applied to the roll of tape by movement of the base toward the core with the side of the base that is free of the cutting arm facing the core and inserting the base into the core of the spool in such a, manner that the arcuate portion of the base engages the inner periphery of the core and is centered and retained thereon by the flanges 4 and 4a and 5 and So. When so inserting the base, the cutting arm is of course raised to the upper position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 so as to clear the roll of tape. After the base is placed within the core, the cutting arm is lowered about its pivot to a position where it engages the outer most layer of tape, with the cutting blade engaging the outer surface of the outer convolution of tape. The friction washer H, which obviously may be supplanted by a spring or other equivalent device if so desired, serves to maintain the arm in its lowered or cutting position and thus retain the tape cutter upon the roll of tape.

In applying the tape to the article upon which he is working, the operator grasps the roll of tape with the cutting device therein in either hand in such a manner that the hooked end of the base is against the fourth or fifth finger and the thumb overlies and engages the corrugated or roughened portion I9 of flange It. With the roll of tape held in this manner, it is relatively easy to permit rotation of the spool as tape is unrolled and until the desired length of tape has been withdrawn from the roll, at which time a slight grasping action of the hand prevents further rotation of the spool of tape and permits cutting of the tape against blade 3.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that there has been provided a relatively inexpensive, compact, and simple tape-cutting device which is trouble free and easy to manipulate. 'With proper selection of materials the cost may be such as to permit free distribution of the cutting device if desired. The base and cutting arm can be made of suitable dimensions to permit of some advertising thereon, if such advertising is desired.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that minor changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tape-cutting device for use upon a roll of tape comprising a base adapted to-engage the interior periphery of the core of a roll of tape and a cutting arm pivotally connected to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base, said arm being disconnected from the opposite side of said base, whereby said cutting device may readily be placed on .a roll of tape by approaching said roll from one side thereof.

2. A tape-cutting device for use upon a roll of tape comprising a base adapted to engage the interior periphery of the coreof a roll of tape, and having means thereon for positioning said base relatively to said core, and a cutting arm pivotally connected to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base, said arm being disconnected from the opposite side of'said base, whereby said cutting device may readily be placed on a roll of tape by approaching said r011 from one side thereof.

3. A tape-cutting device for use upon a roll of tape comprising a base adapted to engage the interior periphery of the core of a roll of tape, and a cutting arm pivotally connected to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base, and having a means thereon for positioning said arm relatively to said tape, said arm being disconnected from the opposite side of said base, whereby said cutting device may readily be placed on a roll of tape by approaching said roll from one side thereof.

4. A tape-cutting device for use upon a roll of tape comprising a base adapted to engage the interior periphery of the core of a roll of tape, and having means thereon for positioning said base relatively to said core, and a cutting arm pivotally connected to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base, and having a means thereon for positioning said arm relatively to said tape, said arm being disconnected from the opposite side of said base, whereby said cutting device may readily be placed on a roll of tape by approaching said roll from one side thereof.

5. A tape-cutting device for use upon a roll of tape comprising a base adapted to engage the interior periphery of the .core of a roll of tape and a cutting arm pivotally connected to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base, means for resisting movement of said arm relative to said base, said arm being disconnected from the opposite side of said base whereby said cutting device may readily be placed on a roll of tape by approaching said roll from one side thereof.

6. A tape-cutting device comprising an arcuately shaped base terminating in a hooked portion, said base being adapted to engage the interior periphery of the core of a roll of tape, and a cutting arm pivotally connected to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base. i

7. A tape-cutting device comprising an arcuately shaped base adapted to engage the interior periphery of the core of a roll of tape, said base terminating at one end in a hooked portion extending in one direction from said base and at its other end in guiding flanges extending in the other direction from said base for positioning ,said base relatively to said core, and a cutting arm pivotally connected to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base.

8. A tape-cutting device for use upon a roll of tape comprising an arcuate base adapted to engage the interior periphery of the core of a roll of tape, and an arcuate cutting arm pivotally connected at one end to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base, said arm being formed at its free end with a flange adapted to overlie the outer periphery of a roll of tape.

9. A tape-cutting device for use upon a roll of tape'comprising an arcuate base adapted to engage the interior periphery of the core of a roll of tape, and an arcuate cutting arm pivotally connected at one end to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base, said arm being formed at its free end with a flange adapted to overlie the outer periphery of a roll of tape, said flange having a cutting blade carried thereby. I

10. A tape-cutting device for use upon. a roll of tape comprising an arcuate base adapted to engage the interior periphery of the core of a roll of tape, and an arcuate cutting arm pivotally connected at one end to one side of said base for movement toward and from said base, said arm being formed at its free end with a flange adapted to overlie the outer periphery of connected to one side 01' said base, and having a portion overlying the outer periphery of said roll of tape, whereby the outer convolution of said roll of tape may be severed by engagement thereof with said cutting arm.

FRED A. SMITH. 

